Primary Results!

Great to see that Murphy advanced to the November General Election in her effort to become Bellingham City Council Member-at-Large. This is significant "fireworks-wise" since she has publicly expressed her support for the recently passed revised fireworks ordinance which goes to effect in June, 2014.  Congratulations to Rozanne on her primary victory!  Later . . .

Bellingham City Council Elections

The revised fireworks ordinance was adopted with the supporting votes of four (4) of the seven (7) Bellingham City Council Members.  Again, many thanks to Knutson, Lehman, Weiss and Snapp.

Knutson and Lilliquist are running, both unopposed, for re-election to 4-year terms. Snapp is retiring, and he has endorsed Pinky Vargas for his seat on Council. She is running against Clayton Petree for this 4-year Ward 4 seat. Fleetwood is not running for re-election, and he has endorsed Roxanne Murphy. She is running in the primary against Bob Burr and Allen Brown for this 2-year at-large seat.

You may ask, "So, what does this have to do with fireworks?"  A whole lot.  Let me explain:

Pinky supports the fireworks ban.  In fact, at the 6/3/13 public hearing before Council, she spoke forcibly in favor of then proposed ban, urging the Council to approve it.  Jerry Farwell, the "suit" who testified against the proposed ban that same evening, represents the Consumer Fireworks Safety Association PAC, which has recently contributed financially to Petree's campaign.  If elected, Pinky will preserve what Snapp did in support of the recently approved revised fireworks ordinance.

Roxanne also supports the fireworks ban.  In John Stark's 7/25 Herald regarding the Murphy, Burr, Brown 3-way primary race, he wrote: "Murphy says she agrees with the personal fireworks ban . . . because she believes most city residents favor it."  If elected, Roxanne will join Knutson, Lehman and Weiss in support of the new ban.

BOTTOM LINE:  Please consider showing your continued support of the fireworks ban by voting for Roxanne Murphy in the primary and for both Pinky Vargas and Roxanne in the general election in November.  THANKS!  Later . . .

Interesting Letter-to-the-Editor

Today's Bellingham "Halibut" - aka the Herald - included an interesting letter-to-the Editor about fireworks.  The author's lack of understanding of both the current ordinance and of the new ban is significant.  Comments to the letter are also intriguing, as folks like Earnest are beginning to show a very acute understanding of the shortcomings of current ordinance and solid support of the new ban. While remembering what this is really all about - making our City an even better place to live - I urge you to check out the letter and comments thereto here.  Later . . .

UPDATE:

When this posting, and a similar one on our FB page, went out this morning, there were just a half-dozen comments.  Now (5:15PM B'ham time) there are more than another dozen.  Thanks to Ernest, DickConoboy and reasonable_man for "informed" comments in response to others who show a total misunderstanding of the existing City fireworks ordinance and of the recently adopted ban that is slated to go into effect on 6/18/14.  Total bans have been successful in 58-other cities in our State.  Spokane and Spokane County have had incredibly successful total bans for 2-decades.  Bellingham's new total ban is expected to make our City an even better place to live.  Later . . . 

All's Been Quiet on the Southside

For the most part, it appears that the illegal use of fireworks has run its' course on the Southside.  I hope its been quiet where ever you live in the City.  So, that leaves us to have to tough it out this coming New Years and look forward to the implementation of the recently adopted ban when it goes into effect on June 18th, 2014.  I do not think, however, that we can back off now.  Quite the opposite!  We need to do some serious thinking as to what we can do, either individually or collectively, to help implementation of the new ban succeed.  Please think about this and get back to me with your ideas.  THANKS!  Later . . .

Illegal Fireworks Likely Cause of Local Apartment Fire on the 4th of July

Here's just one more reason why the recently passed total fireworks ban is a "no brainer".  Check it out here.

2nd Night in a Row

Last evening was the second in a row that it was quiet.  Perhaps the explosions are over until New Years.  Let's hope so.  Later . . .

The Sunday Quiet Did Not Last!

Here's the deal:  Not only are these idiots unable to read a calendar.  They are also apparently into Sunday being a day of rest.  After a wonderfully quiet Sunday evening, last evening, just past 11PM, the blasts returned.  Although they were distant, Panda certainly knew what was going on. And she did not like it one bit!  A queen-size bed is simply too small for my wife and I and our Aussie!  It's such a helpless feeling to be able to do nothing for a dog who is trembling in your arms as the explosions continued for over an hour.  I so look forward to next year.  Later . . .